Just got back from a few days away with some church friends (young adult group). We sat and watched the snow fall, played with the kids, went snow-tubing, and ate. C loved the tubing and I was so proud of her. She is rather cautious by nature and every time was at the top of the hill she’d say, “I’m scared.” Then she’d do it. Big stuff.
The second time one of the guys in our group told her to sing “Jingle Bells” on the way down. She did. Adorable.
We’re glad we went. I predicted it would be exhausting (managing three kids out of their normal environs) but that the fun would outweigh the fatigue. That’s pretty much right. Everyone had a good time and even slept well with all of us in the same room. On the other hand, the divine miss m had a thermonuclear meltdown this evening. I did everything to forestall it, and then to manage it without losing my cool. I mostly succeeded in the latter, though it didn’t help her weather it any better.
Sigh.
With little she-who-is (who admittedly had few major tantrums), I would get totally rattled. With miss m, I am calmer during the thunderstorm but still feel like a huge failure as a parent when it happens. Dumb, I know. Perhaps by the time SBJ goes through the toddler years I’ll be calm inside AND out!
13 Responses to “back in town”
Leave a Reply
Search
Asides
» I’m looking for some new online reading materials–blogs, zines, whatever. Creative yet accessible, inspiring but not schmaltzy, smart but not impenetrable. Recommendations welcome.
» The latest on SBJ: at one year, he weighs 30.5 pounds (99%), is 32 inches tall (97%) and is 100% cute.
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
Links
Join | List | Prev | Next Random | Prev5 | Next5
Skip Prev | Skip Next
Join | List | Prev | Next |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
I’ve been losing my cool several times a day, but I’m not having another kid just to solve it.
I’m almost home too. In Atlanta and getting ready to take off after a great trip to see the jj’s. Looking forward to seeing you next weekend but may be in SC for Obama!
The meltdowns will morph into crankiness, then into teen moodiness and sulks. Sometimes I think the meltdowns were easier to handle because once over, they’re over. Sometimes we all loose our cool–but you’re doing a great job!
Well, I can tell you this. I was probably the number one tantrum thrower in the family…but as #3 of 4, by the time I came around, Mom was one cool cucumber and never let me get the upper hand. And look how well-balanced I turned out?!?!?
And ditto what QG said! Brava to you!
I would be happy for my children to resemble Uncle NotShy in any number of ways!
(Though as R pointed out to me the other night, SBJ has a clockwise hair whirl.)
As an only child, I didn’t know what tantrums were, nor would I have been allowed by my somewhat Teutonic mother to have one.
I’m trying to think back when my kids were little…I can’t recall any real tantrums per se, but they all did the teenage sulk that QG so accurately describes. And I regularly lost my cool over them then. Sometimes in major ways.
Maybe I was jealous that I hadn’t had the opportunity to do the same when I was a kid…
You are doing brilliantly. Don’t sweat it.
in awe. Just in awe. Only place we go is the doctor’s office. And I lose my cool at least once a day. Usually with myself, granted, but still. Your kids are very blessed.
Wow. You really are amazing and quite brave to take on such an adventure so soon after SBJ’s birth!
You’re doing just fine. I love the term “thermonuclear meltdown”, though I’m sure they aren’t as cute in person.
Does she throw herself down on the floor during the meltdown?
We used to call that “praying to Allah”….both kids did it.
We also used the term “supernova” to explain that extreme burst of energy/moodiness/frenzy that occurs right before dropping completely into a deep, deep sleep when a child is exhausted.
“what’s going on with Son? Why is he so horrible?”
“Don’t worry, he’s just being a supernova”
Yes, yesterday morning she didn’t get her way and intended to lay her head on the floor and did it a little too hard, and on the tile part rather than the carpet. You could see her little thoughts, “Aw, shit. Miscalculated it.”
We’ve also experience the limp passive resistance thing a la civil rights and Gandhi.
Today/tonight was much better.
Esp, you’re doing great. You are doing turbo parenting, believe me. So be gentle with yourself.
Oh yeah, the passive resistance thing. My 45-pounder has discovered this, too. One of the benefits of being big and having old, tired parents. He even does it when he’s not upset and we want to get going somewhere, just because it’s so totally fun.
I like the terms people come up with. I know the supernova. And one of my boys, when he was an infant, flickered through all the facial expressions of the various emotions just before he fell completely asleep. I called it his shutdown routine.
I think I’ll add “Going Gandhi” to the vocabulary list.
turbo parenting, huh? I like that. We have grandparental reinforcements this week–very nice–wish they lived closer.
love the “going Ghandi” term. Will remember it for when I am a grand - which I hope is not for a few years, yet. Although with sons ages 24 and 20…that time is closer than it ever was.